Reviews

Bitter Waters by Vivian Shaw

sarrie's review

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Full Review to come

knockoutbooks's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I didn’t realize until after I had already started reading this that it was book 3.5 of a series! I was pleasantly surprised as I kept reading and found that I didn’t need the back story of the other three books.

I really enjoyed this modern vampiric mystery! Dr. Greta Helsing treats the undead and is appalled one night when someone brings a freshly turned 11 year old girl to her door. Greta’s husband and friends work to track down the evildoer with the help of Dracula (yes, THE Dracula) all while helping the young girl adjust to her new life.

This novella was fun, quick and utterly enjoyable while still pulling at your heartstrings. 10/10 would recommend, and I’ll definitely be checking out the series!

ecorinnes's review

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

bysarahalexander's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

plottrysts's review

4.0

A short visit back to London and Greta Van Helsing's world. All our favorites are back (besides Greta we have Varney, Ruthven, Grisaille, and more) plus some fun new characters (especially a grumpy old barrow wight) and a cameo from Dracula himself. So what happens? One night, Varney and Greta are surprised by a young barrow wight knocking on their door with a child who was just turned into a vampire. The rest of the book involves a little bit of tracking down the perpetrator but mostly turns into a custody decision for the new little vamp. Honestly, this is just a nice little novella featuring decent characters trying to do the right thing, which is basically my favorite book genre.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novella. 

craftyhilary's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The publication of this novella is a delightful surprise. I was sure there wouldn't be further adventures of Dr. Greta Helsing and her found family after the trilogy concluded, but here we have a part-mystery, part slice-of-life story in which Greta, Varney, Ruthven, and Grisaille, along with some new friends, investigate the unwilling turning of a precocious 10-year-old. There is something so comfortable about revisiting these beloved characters, seeing them settled into their new domesticity, and I'm thrilled to see seeds planted for a future book.